Miami Heat tabbed for two exhibitions in China

Still, even before the Heat won the 2012 title, it was widely expected that the NBA would select the polarizing, popular team to play a couple of exhibitions in China.

Monday, the NBA made it official, announcing that the Heat and Los Angeles Clippers would compete against each other in the NBA China Games 2012, with games on October 11 at the MasterCard Center in Beijing and October 14 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai.

The games won’t count in the NBA standings, but the sponsors and participants will expect to count plenty of cash afterward. The Heat has actively sought business deals in the region, and last season signed an agreement with Tsingtao beer. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were all part of the U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal in Beijing in 2008, and James and Wade in particular have strong followings there.

The NBA has held 13 games in China since 2004, but this is the first time the defending champions have appeared. And to prepare to make that appearance, Heat players will need to appear a few days early to training camp back in Miami.

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